More Progress

I had to take a look back to see what has happened since my last post. The carpets were cleaned and most of the new lighting was installed. I put tracks with pendants where the shoplights were behind the counter and what a difference! It adds so much to the counter area. We put new lights in the kitchen, which are much nicer, and a pendant in my office. There are tracks that match the pendant waiting to be installed in my office and a new light fixture in the bathroom, and that should be done Wednesday.

We met with Don, who does woodwork, on Friday and are anticipating an estimate from him today. I did order a few more display pieces online, and we're having Don build some pedestals as well as a card display along the front of the counter. One of the windows has a shelf along the base, and we had him estimate putting shelves on the other three windows as well since he was the one who did the first one.

Micki and I decided which POS software to order and thankfully she was willing to try a different one than the former gallery owners used (since the one we decided on is a fraction of the cost of the other), the one we're going with is also written for the Mac, so it isn't necessary for him to use the PC software I got and can return it. I'll get that software on order today and start working with it in "mock company" mode so by the time we open it will be running smoothly.

We've decided on several artists and have started receiving product. This week I'm planning to contact artists outside of the local area, as well as get the missing names and phone numbers of former artists from the former owner.

We have a planning meeting on Wednesday for the Art Hop, and that will throw things into high gear.

I was trying to plan a trip to the annual markets but the first is ON Beckett's birthday and the second coincides with something else that will prevent me from going. I did my best to try to work around it, but can't make it work so I can only think it was because I wasn't meant to go. There is another smaller one in August and I'll plan far in advance to attend that one.

Today I'm having lunch for Valentine's Day with the women in the neighborhood and I'm happy to be included.

People have been stopping by the gallery daily. Some don't know the former gallery closed, some are curious about the new one, some are friends who are stopping in to see how we're doing and some are artists interested in scheduling review appointments. It's the third that means the most. It is hard to believe the number of friends Doug and I have made since we moved here in July. I had dinner with two last Thursday. I picked Dani, our neighbor, up and we drove to the gallery where we met up with Sheila from Children's Choice. We stayed at the gallery for quite awhile and chatted and then made our way to dinner. The food was great but the company better. It was such a nice evening and periodically I thought to myself how naturally friendships develop, and how I remembered in September or October thinking about how long it would be before Doug and I developed a circle of friends here. It happened so quickly, and now with the business, it will continue. Saturday night we had a date and ended at the Mexican restaurant in town for dessert and an after-dinner drink. We chatted with the owners a bit who I had met at the Historic Monument Merchants Association meeting earlier in the week.

There is a buzz in town over the new gallery. The former owners were and are such a force in the community, the location is highly visible and our store is the anchor in the center it is in. Our neighbors told us that were out for dinner at a small restaurant in Palmer Lake last weekend and overheard another couple talking about the new gallery. They joined in and soon there was a conversation taking place about what we were planning to do. That kind of thing certainly can't hurt us. It is a small town and as I’ve said, it doesn’t take much to be a big fish if you’re in a small pond. Exactly the type of place we were meant to be and meant to open our store in, enough business and the right location to make it work, but not so overwhelming and competitive (and expensive) that we can’t get it off the ground.

Beckett’s birthday plans are in full swing and his gifts are arriving every day. I’ve become such an online shopper, but with everything going on, it really is a lifesaver. Today I’ll order the cake and plan the lunch menu. Beckett really loves PB&J sandwiches, crab and pizza. I’ll probably settle on the old kids’ party standby and order pizza.

Micki is in Las Vegas for the week, she’ll be back on Friday and back in. I have much on my plate to accomplish while she’s gone and it’s good to have the impetus to set some firm deadlines and power through some of the work. It will be quiet and I’ll be less likely to do as much running around, so I anticipate great strides made in the next four days.